Morning convection helped stabilize the area until early afternoon when strong heating and an approaching short wave and front set the stage for rapid thunderstorm development. While instability was considered moderate, steep mid-level lapse rates allowed for a favorable profile for large hail and damaging winds.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS IWX wrote it up.
Morning convection helped stabilize the area until early afternoon when strong heating and an approaching short wave and front set the stage for rapid thunderstorm development. While instability was considered moderate, steep mid-level lapse rates allowed for a favorable profile for large hail and damaging winds. The storms began as very proficient hail producers and evolved into causing wind damage as they evolved.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 15, 2:24 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 324 PM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008 .SHORT TERM... TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NGT... AIRMASS STILL RECOVERING FROM PASSAGE OF TSTM CLUSTER/OUTFLOW BOUNDARY THIS MORNING. SPC ANALYSIS INDICATES WK INSTABILITY WITH SBCAPES APCHG 1KJ/KG AND WK SBCIN REMAINING OVER THE CWA ATTM. WAA AND DIURNAL HEATING/MIXING SHOULD DESTABILIZE AIRMASS FURTHER LATE THIS AFTN...HWVR...NAM BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SUGGEST AIRMASS WILL REMAIN RATHER DRY WITH ONLY MODERATE INSTABILITY DVLPG. STRONG MID LEVEL FLOW...40-50KT SHEAR...INVERTED V SOUNDINGS AND RATHER LOW WBZ IMPLIES ANY STORMS WHICH DO DVLP COULD BECOME SVR WITH >3/4 DIAMETER HAIL AND WIND GUSTS >50KT. HWVR GIVEN LIMITED MOISTURE KEPT POPS IN SCT RANGE AND DROPPED POPS NW BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TONIGHT. STRONG CAA WL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TOMORROW AS UPR LOW OVER SE CANADA MOVES SOUTH INTO THE GRTLKS AND SFC HIGH BUILDS INTO THE MS VALLEY. THIS WILL RESULT IN DRY CONDITIONS WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPS MON-MON NGT. && .LONG TERM... TUE-SUNDAY... SHRTWV STILL EXPECTED TO ROTATE AROUND THE UPPER LOW ACROSS THE GRTLKS TUE. GOING POPS RETAINED ACROSS NE WHERE BETTER MOISTURE WILL REMAIN. UPR LOW WILL SLOWLY FILL AND LIFT NE MID-LATE WEEK RESULTING IN A SLOW WARMING TREND. MODELS INDICATING WK SHRTWVS WILL TOP WRN RIDGE PSBLY BRINGING SOME SHOWERS/TSTMS BACK INTO THE AREA AROUND FRI AND SUNDAY. SGFNT TIMING DIFFERENCES REMAIN IN MODELS WITH BOTH SYSTEMS...FOR NOW JUST ADDED POPS FOR FRI AFTN. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 136 PM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008/ AVIATION... CDFNT OVER WI/IA THIS AFTN EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH NRN INDIANA TONIGHT. SCT TSRA EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG/AHEAD OF THE FRONT THIS AFTN AND CONT OVERNIGHT WITH STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE NRN INDIANA TERMINALS LATE THIS AFTN AND THIS EVE. RELATIVELY DRY BELOW CLOUD AIR AND STRONG WINDS ALOFT WILL RESULT IN GUSTY WINDS ACCOMPANYING THE STORMS. BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD SEE DECREASING CLOUDS AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN. GOOD MIXING WITH FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT AND COLD AIR ALOFT WILL RESULT IN RATHER GUSTY WINDS BY LATE MONDAY MORNING. .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && JT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 1058 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008 INZ004>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ078>081-OHZ001-002-004-005- 015-016-024-025-161500- ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-PULASKI- MARSHALL-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI- WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-CASS MI- ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY- PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH BEND...MISHAWAKA...ELKHART... GOSHEN...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER... AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE... PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...WINONA LAKE... COLUMBIA CITY...SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...MONTICELLO... BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...PERU...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER... HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...BERNE...MARION... HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS... STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...COLDWATER...HILLSDALE...BRYAN...WAUSEON... ARCHBOLD...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA... PANDORA...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA 1058 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008 /958 AM CDT SUN JUN 15 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO... SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN INDIANA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ON MONDAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY ACROSS NORTHEAST AREAS. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...HOWEVER SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH STORMS ON TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX INZ003-LMZ043-046-MIZ077-161500- LA PORTE-NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI- MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-BERRIEN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...NILES... BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN 1058 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008 /958 AM CDT SUN JUN 15 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN INDIANA... SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. HIGH WAVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ON MONDAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY ACROSS NORTHEAST AREAS. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...HOWEVER SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH STORMS ON TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1136 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM HAIL 2 W ANGOLA 41.64N 85.04W
06/15/2008 E0.70 INCH STEUBEN IN AMATEUR RADIO
DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT 200 W AND 275 N
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01479
LWFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1139 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1110 AM HAIL 1 NE BRIGHTON 41.73N 85.30W
06/15/2008 M0.25 INCH LAGRANGE IN EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01480
SAWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1147 AM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM HAIL CROOKED LAKE 41.68N 85.04W
06/15/2008 M0.88 INCH STEUBEN IN AMATEUR RADIO
REPORT RELAYED FROM STATE TROOPER
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01481
LWFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1200 PM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1121 AM TSTM WND DMG FLINT 41.69N 85.13W
06/15/2008 STEUBEN IN EMERGENCY MNGR
18 INCH TREE BLOWN DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01482
LWFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1213 PM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1017 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 S CASSOPOLIS 41.84N 86.01W
06/15/2008 CASS MI COUNTY OFFICIAL
TREES DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01483
SAWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
415 PM EDT SUN JUN 15 2008
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM HAIL MICHIGAN CITY 41.71N 86.88W
06/15/2008 M0.70 INCH LA PORTE IN BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
EVENT NUMBER 01484
MCSThe Northern Indiana radar (KIWX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:46 UTC.
18 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters at the South Bend Country Club near the South Bend Regional Airport reported quarter size hail.
Trained spotters reported quarter size hail near the intersection of Highway 23 and Douglas Road.
Numerous reports of hail as large as baseballs were received in the city of South Bend. Numerous vehicles suffered mainly dents and scratches but some broken windows were reported. Damage estimates across the area are at least one million dollars in property damage and at least $250,000 in crop damage.
Numerous public reports of hail ranging from the size of quarters to golf-balls.
Amateur radio operators reported quarter size hail on the north side of town.
Numerous phone calls into local television stations reported hail up to the size of silver dollars.
County officials also reported numerous trees and power lines down across the southern part of the county.
Trained spotters reported numerous trees and large limbs down around the North Judson area.
Emergency management officials surveyed the area and found one-half of a trailer home roof had been blown off. Minor damage was observed to other mobile homes as well. In addition, the crossing gate on a railroad crossing at 900 South and State Route 43 was broken off. Damage is estimated at $45,000.
Nickel size hail was observed by NWS Northern Indiana staff at the office.
A NWS official investigated a report of a tree down onto a house on the north side of North Webster. The tree was blown down, but laid out across the top of the house and no damage was reported to the structure by fire department officials.
Emergency management officials reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county. In addition, a home in the city of Logansport had two of its windows shattered.
Lightning struck a house on State Route 13 in the city of North Manchester, causing extensive damage to the residence. No injuries were reported but damage is estimated at $50,000.
Trained spotters reported large limbs down in the Akron area.
Emergency management officials reported numerous trees and power lines down in Peru.
Amateur radio operators estimated a 60 mph wind gust at 100 East and US 33.
Emergency management officials reported numerous trees and power lines down around Deedsville. A barn was blown down and some vehicles were moved by the strong winds. Damage is estimated at $75,000.
A trained spotter estimated 60 mph winds west of Roanoke.
A wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at the Fort Wayne International Airport.
Trained spotters reported several tree limbs down along a with a four foot wide area of corn being laid down.
Emergency management officials reported numerous trees down with winds estimated as high as 70 mph in the Swayzee area.
Amateur radio operators reported a tree being blown down, blocking the road, at the intersection of Taylor and Ardmore on the west side of Fort Wayne.
Emergency management officials reported numerous trees and power lines down in and around Marion.
Trained spotters reported trees and power lines down west of Sweetser.
Emergency management officials reported a large tree and power lines down, blocking the road, near Bunker Hill.
County officials reported a tree branch down onto a power line with other power outages in the area.
County officials reported three trees were blown down in the Portland area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, June 2008
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 107332, 107333, 107334, 107336, 107337, 107338, 107339, 107340, 107341, 107342, 107343, 107344, 107523, 107549, 107345, 107346, 107510, 107503, 107636, 107554, 107512, 107552, 107513, 107508, 107502, 107495, 107504, 107501, 107506, 107505, 107514, 107555, 107509.